Mark 5:11Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Moreover, it was Jesus' intention to send the freed man back to his hometown to share the miraculous work performed in him. For this messenger to effectively influence the hearts of the Gentiles towards Jesus, it was crucial that he firmly recognized that the evil spirits had indeed departed from him. His conviction had to be based on visible proof. The request from the demons to enter the pigs and the subsequent demise of the herd, which had been grazing contently, coincided precisely with the man’s profound transformation. This incident removed any lingering doubt regarding his genuine liberation from the evil spirits' dominion.

In addressing the question of why the pig owners faced such a loss, we reflect on the words of Job: “The Lord gave, the Lord also took away” (Job 1:21). Can the death of the pigs truly be deemed a loss? This event was pivotal in attracting the inhabitants of the surrounding towns to Jesus; without it, they would not have encountered Him nor would they have believed the man upon his return, affirming that he was freed from demon possession through Christ’s authority. The faith that arose from this encounter, even if not instantaneous, is a profound gain for the spirit, outweighing the monetary loss from the pigs' demise. This dilemma is further clarified by the understanding that the pigs did not perish at the behest of the demons. Some believe that an inner impulse, fueled by the extraordinary power they sensed, compelled the pigs to leap into the sea against the will of the demons inhabiting them. We contend, however, that it was indeed the will of God that such an occurrence took place.

When Jesus commanded the unclean spirit to depart from the man, He inquired, “What is your name?” The demon-possessed individual, under the influence of the dark spirit, was not in command of himself; thus, the evil spirit answered, “Legion,” indicating a Roman military unit of about 6,000 troops. The demons entreated Jesus not to expel them from that region or send them into the abyss. Nearby on a hillside was a large herd of pigs, likely belonging to the Gentiles who populated the eastern shores of Lake Gennesaret. The unclean spirits implored Christ, “If You cast us out, permit us to enter the pigs.” The Lord Jesus immediately granted their request, saying, “Go.” St. John Chrysostom explains this action was not out of persuasion by the demons, but rather to demonstrate to the people of that area His divine power and to more clearly reveal both the wickedness of the demons and their inability to act without the permission of the Almighty. Once expelled from the man, the demons entered the pigs, and subsequently, the entire herd of about two thousand rushed headlong down a steep bank into the lake and drowned.